Shiban Khaibri
It sounds preposterous to undermine, if not decry, the new bold initiative taken by both Modi Ji and Mufti Sayeed for the overall interests of the state of Jammu and Kashmir following the type of the verdict in the recently held fair and fearless elections of the State Assembly. Their two months’ parleys with each other in the best spirit of statesmanship, to chalk out a footing acceptable to both the parties to run the Government, did not go in vain and a coalition has thus emerged which shall get its terms of reference politically and administratively from the common minimum programme (CMP). If the goings on be visualized amidst the din created by the invented and discovered “inherent iter – se contradictions” by the adversaries of this coalition, running the government won’t be less than any baptism by fire. Some have disparagingly mocked this PDP- BJP coalition, some others see in it a “marriage of convenience”, while many others are very much concerned about the “contagious issues” kept in cold storage by the BJP “breaching the trust” of the people. These very critics take them to task for raking up issues like 370, AFSPA and the like, branding them communal, right winged “saffronites” and having allegiance to “directives from Nagpur” and what not. However, when they resolve to keep these issues in cold storage for the smooth governance of the state, they are again criticized for it. Let such and other “specialists on the JK matters” come out with an alternate workable arrangement and if they cannot provide one, let them keep quiet and allow the coalition run the affairs of the state and subject it to a barrage of criticism only when they err or go haywire , even in case they under- perform.
Whose Party registered a win – win position and who’s a win – lose position, let it be deduced that both of them shared in equal proportion the win – lose position. Mufti Sayeed was enticed on many “considerations” the option of going either with its bête- noire the National Conference or the “secular” Congress, both of whom have attained connotations of being Kashmir centric in the recent polls or the results having proven them like , in the process cloistering politically the Jammu verdict and no participation of Jammu in the government. This option was made to loom large in such a fantastic manner that at many an occasion, it was expected to click as the alternative would result in meeting of “the two poles , the North Pole and the South Pole with disastrous consequences” or as it was put as “end of the world”. Not only have the postures of the NC and the Congress been proved redundant but even, political observers must agree, the perverted role of the Hurriyat has proven of no significance. If intentions are sincere and unquestionable and aimed at serving the people, then even the impossible can happen, no wonder the two partners with heterogeneous political ideology in many an area could come together to give a shape to a government which is on the face of it and intrinsically both, a government of whole of the state of Jammu and Kashmir rather than of Kashmir valley only as were the other alternatives suggesting. Both Modi Ji and Mufti Sayeed deserve compliments for giving flexibility and accommodation a historical chance in Government formation.
No party is and should be treated as political untouchables so long as they scrupulously respect and follow the guidelines and the provisions of the constitution of India. Here, let us recall the prophetic words of the former Prime Minister Late Chandra Shekhar, the first “young Turk”, the then rebellious young Congress man, when he castigated those who projected the BJP as something very touchy, very much requiring to be ignored or meriting to be “set aside” by saying, “If tomorrow the people elect them democratically to power, are you going to deny them their right to govern, what shall be your stand then?” Those who perhaps could not deliver to the expectations of the people and were voted out of power have no right to call the coalition as the “combination of the North Pole and the South Pole” or those who want elections to be conducted afresh and doubting the very credibility of the EVMs having been “sent from Gujarat” must go in for introspection.
Just mark the Twitter campaign going much farther than mere satirical, sarcastic or mocking remarks by apprehending, “My worst fear over the last two months was that Mufti would walk away from the BJP, claim the mantle of a martyr and force an election. Whew.” What type of healthy criticism can it be termed about the exchange of elementary pleasantries or a hug between the PM and Mufti Sayeed, “With this hug, “Omar Abdullah wrote in a tweet, “The capital of Jammu and Kashmir is shifted to Nagpur.” Even the announcement of the CMP after the oath taking ceremony has been termed as ,”This is Nikah after Walima, political marriage consummated pending marriage.”This botched out criticism lends credibility to motives which neither put the critics in right perspective nor are people benefitted anyway. This, however, does not mean that avoidable and controversial statements must continue to emanate from the PDP because so far, the other partner has remained committed to discipline and cohesiveness with intent to strengthen the coalition, as to weaken the same there must be many at work. Mufti Sayeed must not harp too much on talking to Pakistan and to build the CBMs to resolve the so called Kashmir issue. Mufti, a true Indian as he is, must remember that Pakistan could agree on nothing less than full merger of Kashmir with that country. Neither the elusive “Aazadi”, nor self rule, nor autonomy, nor trade expansion nor open borders were acceptable to that country which has undoubtedly succeeded in internationalizing Kashmir issue which till the onset of terrorism in 1990 was at best between the two countries only. Its hate policy and fundamentalist prism to every problem has pushed the Kashmiri society to radicalization which otherwise has remained peaceful because of a peculiar historical background prior to 14th century and thereafter, sharing certain common ideologies different from what we have been seeing since late eighties and in particular since 1990.
The PDP must not rake up issues which smack of playing to galleries or appear not in the interests and the integrity of the country and are outside the purview of the CMP and should not get emboldened or influenced by some disgruntled leaders’ endorsement of such demands. This is totally unacceptable. In the words of PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, “We have just started working and we want the agenda to last, my father does not believe in posturing as he is an Indian by conviction….”About Modi , she said, “I see Modiji as a very spontaneous person and one who does not mince any words like my father, we have made a very good start…..” Mufti Sayeed must work overtime to keep the sanctity of the coalition vibrant for full six years and check any fissiparous tendencies aiming at wrecking the coalition since politics is fragile and unpredictable and any miscalculation or over ambitiousness can be too costly to afford. The other partner is ruling the country, Jand K is a part of the country and the very flexibility shown in Government formation is a guarantee against any unilateral breach therein. Both should prove that irrespective of the tag of “North Pole and South Pole”, serving the people must be the goal.
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